Briefly, Togo is a small country in West Africa lying just above the equator on the
Greenwich meridian. It has a tropical climate with a few hills and plateaus running
up the country from the southwest to the northeast. It is the home of about 20 ethnic
groups speaking about 40
languages. Most Togolese are farmers or merchants. Roughly half the
population can read ... French! A typical meal consists of corn, yams, manioc, or plantain, with a spicy sauce seasoned with meat (if you
are that fortunate). Tropical fruits abound in their season: oranges, mangos, papayas,
avocados, bananas. National pastime: hanging out at the market.